For animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes, [http://www.mapofus.org/illinois/ "Rotating Formation Illinois County Boundary Maps"] (1790-1869) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

*'''15 February 1831:''' Effingham County was created from [[Fayette County, Illinois|Fayette]] and [[Crawford County, Illinois|Crawford ]]Counties. <ref>''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''; Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002 {{WorldCat|50140092}}, {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}</ref>; Effingham not fully organized, parts attached to Crawford and Fayette until "organized." (Ill. Laws 1830-1831, pp. 50-52)

*'''15 February 1831:''' Effingham County was created from [[Fayette County, Illinois|Fayette]] and [[Crawford County, Illinois|Crawford ]]Counties. <ref>''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''; Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002 {{WorldCat|50140092}}, {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}</ref>; Effingham not fully organized, parts attached to Crawford and Fayette until "organized." (Ill. Laws 1830-1831, pp. 50-52)

See [[Illinois Vital Records]] for more information about Vital records in Illinois. Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the [https://www.clintonco.illinois.gov/county_clerk.htm Clinton County Clerk] while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the [http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm Illinois Department of Public Health] with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

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See [[Illinois Vital Records]] for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also [http://www.genealogyinc.com/illinois/il-vital-records/ How to order Illinois Vital Records] or [http://www.genealogyinc.com/ordervitalcertificate/ order electronically online].

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Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the [https://www.clintonco.illinois.gov/county_clerk.htm Clinton County Clerk] while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the [http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm Illinois Department of Public Health] with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases, the [[The Family History Library|Family History Library]] and the [http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)] located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Effingham County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the [[IRAD - Eastern Illinois University|EIU IRAD Wiki page.]]

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases, the [[The Family History Library|Family History Library]] and the [http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)] located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Effingham County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the [[IRAD - Eastern Illinois University|EIU IRAD Wiki page.]]

County Organization

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Effingham County are kept, see the Effingham County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts

Lordeffingham.jpg

Effingham County is named for Lord Effingham who is noted for resigning his commission as general in the British army in 1775 and refusing to serve in the war against the colonies.

Boundary Changes

15 February 1831: Effingham County was created from Fayette and Crawford Counties. [1]; Effingham not fully organized, parts attached to Crawford and Fayette until "organized." (Ill. Laws 1830-1831, pp. 50-52)

To see a list of places in Effingham County, click on [Show], above.Localities listed in red have no wiki page yet. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

1840 PensionersA Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Effingham County on page 186.]; FHL Book973 X2pc 1840

Mailing Lists

Message Boards

Periodicals

Effingham County Genealogical and Historical Society newsletterFHL See note.

History

The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Effingham County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Effingham County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Bits of Effingham County, Illinois historyFHL Book 977.3796 H2ppThe articles in this book were written as columns for the “Effingham Daily News” from 1967 to 1988, under the general heading “Bits of Illinois History” — Introd., p. 3.

Land and Property

Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

Military

The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Effingham County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Effingham County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Civil War

Civil War service men from Effingham County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Effingham County.

1849-1920 Probate records are also available in Illinois, Probate Records, 1819-1970. Click on the browse through images link, select Effingham County, and select the record type you are interested in. Includes, Guardianship records, probate records and wills.

Archives

County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Effingham County are kept, see the Effingham County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors. Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at a nominal cost. Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome.

The following centers are accessible to residents of Effingham County, Illinois:

Centralia Illinois Family History Center Leafland & 3rd StreetCentralia, Marion, IllinoisPhone: 618-532-3482Hours: Wednesday 2-6pmAttention: We have temporarily moved to this new location while our building is being remodeled.

Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center1845 N 6 1/2 StTerre Haute, Vigo, IndianaPhone: 812-234-0269Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo schools are on delays or early dismissals.Attention: The Center is also available by appointment.

Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments. Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts. The records of Edwards County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.

Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Vital Records

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Clinton County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.